11 facts about Easter

Easter is here again - but how much do you know about the annual celebration?

For many, Easter just means that there is a bank holiday weekend coming, so an extra lie in. But there is so much history behind the season that it really is worth learning about it.

1. Easter Sunday is also known as Pasch or Resurrection Sunday, as it celebrates the day that Jesus rose from the dead.

2. The date for Easter changes every year, as the holy dates are determined by a lunar calendar. They are known as “moveable feasts” - but many are campaigning for them to be changed and fixed.

3. In Western Christianity, Easter day always falls on a Sunday between March 22, and April 25.

4. Easter eggs are traditionally given as gifts for the holiday, but the tradition was started by members of the Christian community who stained eggs red to signify Jesus’ blood after the crucifixion.

5. Before chocolate eggs were given out to children and adults as gifts, painted chicken eggs were used instead.

6. The Easter season officially begins on Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of Lent. It follows Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day.

7. According to Guinness World Records, the tallest chocolate Easter egg measured 10.39 m in height and was made by Tosca in Italy. It was measured at Le Acciaierie Shopping Centre, in Cortenuova, on April 16, 2011. The egg weighed 7,200kg.

8. An Easter egg hunt held in London in April 2012 took a Guinness World Record for having the most entrants. There were 12,773 people taking part.

9. The Easter Bunny starred in 2012 film Rise of the Guardians, along with Santa Claus, Jack Frost and the Tooth Fairy. The character was played by Hugh Jackman.

10. Hot cross buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday - and folklore says that buns baked and served on this holy day will never spoil for the subsequent year.

11. The largest hot cross bun weighed 168kg and was made by the RSPB in conjunction with Greenhalghs Bakery, in Bolton, on April 5, 2012.